Electric fan oscillating device



Nbv. 18, 1952 FARNSWORTH 2,618,434

ELECTRIC FAN OSCILLATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

ma'lddzvmmell Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:-

ELECTRIC FAN OSCILLATIN G DEVICE Lawrence Farnsworth, Racine, Wis.

Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,017

8 Claims. (01. 230-256).

This invention relates to improvements in electric fan oscillating devices.

Electric fans are of two general typesoscillating and non-oscillating. Conventional oscillatin electric fans are relatively expensive and the motor which revolves the fan blades is also utilized to operate the fan oscillating mechanism. This arrangement has the decided disadvantage that if the fan blade speed is retarded the slower operation of the cormnon motor will retard the speed of oscillation of the fan. Conventional non-oscillating fans are, of course, less expensive than oscillating electric fans but have their limitations.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide as a unit, easily incorporated in a nonoscillating electric fan structure, a mechanism driven by a small independent electric motor which will cause oscillation of the electric fan, and which furthermore permits a constant oscillating speed regardless of the speed of rotation of the'fanblades.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric fan oscillating device which operates independently of the motive power for the rotation of the fan blades and which is moreover simple to control and which may be easily incorporated in an electric fan structure either as an original component part of the fan structure, or as a unit to convert a non-oscillating electric fan intoan oscillating fan.

' A further object of the invention is to provide any electric fan oscillating device which may be incorporated in an electric fan structure in a very simple manner without adding undue bulk thereto, which is neat and attractive in appearance, which is relatively inexpensive, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved electric fan oscillating device, and its parts and combinations,

as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. 7

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric fan equipped with the improved oscillating device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the fan oscillating unit;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig.5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view fan supporting pedestal I 0.

taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with a broken line showing to indicate the range of oscillation of the-device, the fan blade motor and associated parts being omitted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, an electric fan of conventional form is illustrated in Fig. 1 exceptthat the improved fan oscillating device indicated generally by the numeral 8 is shown as being interposed between the-fan blade motor 9 and the upper end of the The illustrated electric fan includes a heavy flat base II from which the vertical supporting pedestal l0 rises. As is conventional, the upper end of the latter is fiattened as at l2 and is embraced by the bifurcated arms l3 of a saddle I4. The bifurcated arms 13 are adjustably secured to the flattened upper end of the pedestal ID by a bolt [5 whereby the various instrumentalities mounted above the saddle may be arcuately adjusted relative to the pedestal Ill.

In conventional electric fans the fan blade motor 9 may be seated directly on and secured to the saddle M or an equivalent member. In the present improvements said saddle is utilized for the oscillatory support of the oscillating unit 8 which in turn carries the fan motor Sand fan. An ear at one side of the saddle I4 is formed with a downwardly projecting stud IE on which is pivotally mounted one end of a curved oscillating lever II, the stud l6 carrying a retaining cotter pin l8 and a spacing collar'l9. The upper portion of the saddle I4, intermediate its ends, is provided with an eccentric opening 20 which freely movably receives the shank portion of a stem 2| which depend fixedly from the central horizontal flange of a U-bracket 22. Said U-bracket 22 has fixedly mounted therewithin a small electric motor 23. The functionof' said electric motor is to drive the motion transmitting train of gears (later to be described) for the oscillating lever ll.

Fixed to said electrical motor 23 and hence to the U-bracket 22 and projecting horizontally rearwardly therefrom is an open housing which includes upper and lower plates 24 and 25, respectively, in which the opposite ends of vertical shafts 26, 21 and 28 are journalled, among others. The electric motor 23 has a vertical drive shaft 29 carrying on its lower end a small pinion 30 which meshes with a larger gear 3| on a vertical shaft, the latter also carrying a smaller pinion 32 meshing with a large gear 33 on shaft 26. The

meshe with and drives a gear 38 on shaft 21.

Shaft 27 additionally carries a smaller gear 39 which meshes with and drives a large gear 40 on shaft 28 whereby the latter shaft is revolved at a desired reduced rate of speed. Shaft 28 depends below the lower housing plate 25 and has fast thereon the inner end of a crank 4|. To the other end portion of the crank 4| the outer end of the curved oscillating lever I1 is pivotally connected, as at 2.

By means of the small electric motor 23 which drives the train of gears described which are housed between the plates 24 and 25, the crank 4| may be continuously revolved and the revolution of the latter serves to oscillate in a horizontal plane the oscillating lever H. The latter, through its connection with the housing comprising the plates 24 and 25, which are fast to the U-bracket 22, functions to oscillate the U- bracket 22 relative to the fixed saddle l4, the axis of oscillation being the stem 2| which has freedom of movement within the enlarged oval opening 20 in the saddle. Obviously, all elements mounted on the saddle and housing plate 24 oscillate when this unitary structure is oscillated through the mechanism described.

The U-bracket 22 has the upper ends of its side arms angled outwardly as at 22 while the outer end of the top plate 24 of the gear housing is formed with an upwardly projecting supporting plate 43. As will be observed from Fig. 1 the U-bracket portions 2'2 and the plate 43 form a seat for the fan blade motor 9 of the electric fan unit, the fan blade motor being secured to the portions 22 of the U-bracket by metal screws 44. As is conventional in electric fans the drive shaft of the motor 9, extending forwardly of the motor, has mounted thereon for rotation, fan blades 45 which are housed within a protective cage 45.

Electric current from a convenient source is supplied to the fan blade motor 9 by a cable 41 having circuit wires therein and the on and oil operation of the fan blade motor 9, as well as its speed of operation, is controlled by a rheostat switch 48.

The independent electric motor 23 for the oscillating mechanism has current supplied thereto by wires 49 which are extended into the housing of the fan blade motor 9 and are connected with the circuit wires therein. The wires 49 for the independent motor 23 are intersected by a switch 56 which may be operated to control operation of the oscillating mechanism.

From the foregoing description it should be evident that when the cable 4! is connected with a source of electrical energy and the switch 48 for the fan blade motor 9 is turned to any of the desired operating speeds the fan blades 45 will be revolved. If oscillation is desired the switch 50 for the independent motor 23 is then turned to its on position and the entire assemblage above the saddle M. will be oscillated in a horizontal plane at a constant speed, regardless of the speed of operation of the fan blade motor 9. In Fig. there is illustrated the range of oscillatory movement of the parts supported above the saddle l4 and swung by the lever H and revolving crank il.

In the improved electric fan oscillating device the oscillating mechanism may be operated at will and a constant-speed of oscillation is assured as the oscillating mechanism is driven by the small electric motor which is independent of the fan blade motor. All of the oscillating mechanism is incorporated in a compact unit 'which,

a fan assemblage, is interposed between the upper end of the fan pedestal and the underside of the fan blade motor. The arrangement is equally applicable to new or original electric fan structures or it may be supplied for use with an existing non-oscillating electric fan to convert the latter in a simple and inexpensive manner into an oscillating electric fan. The fan oscillating device is of simple and novel construction, is neat and compact, is easy to operate, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, a pedestal, a saddle adjustably carried by the upper end thereof, an oscillating unit pivotally mounted on said saddle and including an independent electric motor and motion transmitting means driven thereby, said motion transmitting means being anchored at one end to said saddle and being operatively associated with said oscillating unit, an electric fan assemblage including a second motor and fan blades adapted to be revolved by said second motor, and means for mounting said fan assemblage directly on said oscillating unit for movement therewith.

2. In combination, a vertical, portable pedestal, a saddle adjustably carried by the upper end thereof, an oscillating unit pivotally mounted on said saddle to oscillate in a plane at right angles to the axis of the pedestal and including a secondary electric motor, connections between said secondary motor and said saddle to oscillate said unit relative to the pedestal, an electric fan assemblage including a primary motor and fan blades adapted to be revolved by said primary motor, and means for mounting said fan assemblage directly on said oscillating unit for movement therewith.

3. In an electric fan assemblage including a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, unitary means pivotally mounted on the pedestal but interposed between the latter and the fan blade revolving motor and carrying the latter for oscillating it, said interposed means'including an independent electric motor, and connections between said interposed means and said pedestal operatively driven by said independent motor for causing oscillatory movements of said means and the carried fan blade revolving motor relative to the pedestal.

4. In an electric fan assemblage including a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, unitary means pivotally mounted on the pedestal and carrying the fan blade revolving motor, there being a swivel connection between said means and said pedestal, said unitary means including an, independent electric motor, and connections between said unitary means and said pedestal operatively driven by said independent motor for causing oscillatory movements of said means and the carried fan blade revolving motor relative to the pedestal.

5. In an electric fan assemblage including a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, an oscillating unit pivotally mounted on the pedestal and carrying the fan blade revolving motor for oscillating the latter, said oscillating unit including an independent electric motor, and connections between said oscillating unit and said pedestal operatively driven by said independent motor for causing oscillatory movements of said unit and the fan blade revolving motor relative to the pedestal.

6. In an electric fan assemblage including a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, an oscillating unit pivotally mounted on the pedestal and carrying the fan blade revolving motor for oscillating the latter, said oscillating unit including an independent electric motor, a train of reduction gears driven by said independent motor, and an oscillating connection between said oscillating unit and said pedestal operatively connected with said gears for causing oscillatory movements of said unit and the fan blade revolving motor relative to the pedestal.

7. In a portable electric fan assemblage including a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, an oscillating unit pivotally mounted on the pedestal and having rigidly mounted thereon the fan blade revolving motor, said oscillating unit including an independent electric motor, a lever mounted between said unit and the pedestal, and motion transmitting means driven by said independent motor and extending to said lever whereby movements of said lever are efi'ective to oscillate said oscillating unit.

8. In a portable electric fan assemblage including fan blades, a fan blade revolving motor and a pedestal, unitary means interposed between the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,657,983 Willits Jan. 31, 1928 1,684,325 Lister et al Sept. 11, 1928 1,971,373 Gough Aug. 28, 1934 2,128,724 Zint Aug. 30, 1938 2,300,723 Berry Nov. 3, 1942 

